The Fire's Center (17 page)

"No arguments. My mind is made up. The more of these things Riona takes care of for me, the more I can concentrate on my cases and making people well.

"Now, I won’t keep you any longer, Quentin. I'm sure you’re eager to get home to your own hearth. But since the committee is meeting on Sunday, would you like to join us for dinner? And bring Antoinette. After all, we can’t have Riona the only woman amongst nineteen men, now can we?"

"Well, it is a bit short notice," Quentin hesitated, looking at Riona, and not liking to think of what might happen if Antoinette were to find out all he had learnt about Riona and Lucien and their trip from Donegal.

Not that he thought there was anything to be concerned about, but knowing Antoinette and her catty ways, she would somehow manage to put the worst interpretation on things.

Quentin thanked his brother for tea, and while Lucien went out to see about ordering around his brother’s carriage, he said quietly to Riona, "Please don’t take this amiss, Miss Connolly, but what you’ve told me today, about the way you and Lucien have met, well, people in this city like nothing better than to gossip. It might be far better if you just explained your presence here as your being a distant cousin of the family, rather than tell the truth."

Riona’s sapphire blue eyes widened in surprise. "But why?"

"Even if you have no concern for your own reputation, though a pretty young girl like yourself should, think of Lucien’s reputation. People might believe he had you under this roof for less than savoury reasons."

 
"I know you mean to be kind, but it's lying. We would be caught out eventually," Riona said stiffly.

"Not if we all kept to the same story."

"I have nothing to hide, if that's what you're implying."

Quentin shook his head. "I’m sorry, I’ve offended you. It was the last thing I wished to do. It’s just that well, my wife, and her friends , they’re..."

"Snobs?" Riona supplied sharply. "They wouldn’t want to know a governess? In that case, I shan’t bother to inform cook that there will be two more to dinner on Sunday."

"No, don’t do that! I will come at any rate, no matter what my wife says. Business is business, after all," Quentin said with a kind smile. He was glad to see Riona visibly relax, and nod.

"I shall see you on Sunday then, Mr. Woulfe," she replied coolly, extending her hand

"I look forward to it." Quentin bowed formally, and took his leave, wondering why he found Lucien being with Riona so unsettling.

Once he was gone, Riona joined Lucien by the door in the foyer. She remained wrapped in her thoughts for a moment before saying nonchalantly, "Lucien, I’ve been thinking."

"Yes, my dear, what about?" Lucien asked with a smile, bending his golden gaze to look at her.

"Well, silly gossip doesn’t worry me, but you are a public figure. I wouldn’t want anything to damage your reputation in any way. We were perhaps a bit too candid with Quentin."

"Hmm, perhaps."

"Do you not think it would be better if instead of admitting you found me by the roadside, we said I was a distant cousin from Donegal? People would ask far fewer questions then," she attempted to say casually, though deep down she had been hurt by his brother’s criticism of her.

Lucien knitted his brows. At length he replied, "I don’t really care for myself. But you are young, and I wouldn’t want anything to tarnish your reputation.

"All right, if it makes you feel better, I agree. In fact, if Antoinette is coming on Sunday, it would probably be the best thing all around. She doesn’t like other women, you see, and a little innocent thing like you wouldn’t stand a chance against her sharp tongue."

"I can defend myself," Riona said with a lift of her chin.

"Yes, Riona, my dear, I believe you can at that. We’ll find out just how well on Sunday, now won’t we?" Lucien replied, his tawny eyes glinting with bemused pride.

Sunday dawned grey and chill. Riona reluctantly got out of bed at six and lit the fire in her room. She jumped back under the warm covers until the fire began to draw well, and then hopped out of bed to get ready for her taxing day preparing for Lucien's large dinner party with all his most important business associates.

She washed her neck, face and hands with cold water from the basin, and got dressed. After some thought, she selected her new wine-coloured woollen gown and her finest shawl.

Once she had dressed, she threw open the shutters and read her drugs and other medicines books for an hour until she heard the maid coming in to do her room.

By then the fire in the study on the floor below had been lit, and Riona moved downstairs to her seat in the corner, where she made notes on all she read at the small desk, and waited for Lucien to appear.

She had decided that with so much to do from now on, she would make it her habit to rise at six. But she had a feeling Lucien wouldn’t exactly approve, so when he came in at nine, she yawned and pretended she had only just got up.

"Well, don’t sit there looking famished, girl, come have breakfast."

They ate together companionably, with Lucien reading interesting items from the paper to her, while she served him from the long sideboard, and went over his schedule for the day which she kept note of her in her own pocketbook, and would transfer into his each morning.

On this particular Sunday of course, Riona’s head was filled with plans for the dinner party that afternoon. The last of the acknowledgements had arrived the previous evening.

"All of them are coming." She rolled her eyes heavenward in disbelief.

"There is nothing to be worried about, Riona," Lucien hastened to reassure her. "They are all crusty old men who only care about discussing their ideas on how to run the charity, money, politics, and of course, having a good dinner. Now, what else is on my schedule today?"

"Mr. Lewis at ten o’clock, and Mr. Partridge at eleven."

"And the guest are arriving at three, for dinner at four?" Lucien asked.

"That’ s right," Riona confirmed.

"Then I think I can squeeze in a visit to the head of the Royal College of Surgeons just for a bit of extra information on some of these men, you know?" Lucien said with a wink. "I’ll do my best to be back before three, though."

"I hope so, Lucien. I’ll need you to check everything over one last time."

"Don’t worry, you’ll be fine," he said gently as he patted her hand,

"Now these men, is there anyone I shouldn’t sit them next to?"

Riona and Lucien went over the seating plan, with Lucien at the top of the table as host and Riona at the bottom as hostess, with his brother and sister-in-law in the middle of the table.

"But Lucien, Antoinette is family after all, whereas I am not," Riona began to protested.

"But Antoinette is not the hostess of this household, you are. You shall sit opposite me, and the servant will obey your instructions, and yours only, is that clear?" Lucien stated firmly.

"Yes, Lucien, perfectly clear," she agreed, even though she was filled with misgivings about how his sister-in-law would react.

"Good," Lucien said as he rose from the chair and gathered his papers. "And besides, we're sticking to the story of you as my cousin, remember?"

"Yes, Lucien."

He went into the consulting rooms for his medical bag, and then stepped out into the foyer to get his cloak.

"I shall see you by three then, my dear."

Riona helped him put on his cloak, and he gave her a quick peck on the top of her head, before he disappeared down the steps and into his carriage.

Riona heaved a huge beleaguered sigh, and as soon as Lucien was gone, she set to work. Her first port of call was the dining room. It was a long, wide room with oaken doors and a heavily polished wooden floor.

There were two long sideboards on adjacent walls, a small door in one corner for the servant’s access, and a large window with an eastern exposure which made it seem quite cheerful despite the dark wood furnishings.

The table was mahogany, as were the sideboards, and the row of matching chairs were high backed and covered in a tawny velvet.

 
First Riona and two of the servants set the table, making sure the placards she had written out neatly on some thick parchment she had found were all in the right places. She went over the menu once more to make sure the correct knives, forks, and spoons were on the table, as well as the right wine glasses.

She also placed the port and cigars within easy reach for when the ladies withdrew into the drawing room, as was the custom.

Then she coached Niamh the maid and Bob the manservant on the most gracious ways to serve.

Bob was not really a butler, more of a general servant who performed a variety of tasks. There was also Anna, who did general cleaning and serving duties when required, as well as the cook, Mrs. Kinsella, the odd job boy, Tom, and the coachman Edgar and two stable and house servants for heavier tasks, Ted and Sam.

There was also a woman who came to do the wash three times a week, and the cook’s daughter Rose, who helped with cleaning and polishing when needed.

All these servants were usually more than enough for a bachelor’s establishment, but with so many guests coming to dinner, it was all hands on deck.

But at least Riona felt comfortable with them all. She was conscious of the difference in their respective status, with her being treated like a honoured guest, but she still wanted to do her share, so she donned an apron and went downstairs to check on the roast, the cakes, and the jellies.

"Everything looks lovely, Mrs. Kinsella," she praised sincerely.

"Does it look like the fancy dinners you’ve seen at the Woodhams’ house?" the older woman asked eagerly

"Even better," Riona replied with a wink.

The older woman beamed.

When she was certain things were under control downstairs in the kitchen, Riona went up to check the drawing room.

The drawing room was large and stately, the walls covered with a rich burgundy paper, the windows with matching heavy velvet drapes.

A massive fireplace with a mahogany carved mantelpiece took up one of the long walls. There was a pianoforte in the corner, and various burgundy and black leather upholstered sofas and chairs arranged in small groups throughout.